Multi-purpose split shot pliers for fishermen



March v9, 1965 s. o. sTANFlELD 3,172,319

MULTI-PURPOSE: SPLIT SHOT PLIERS FOR FISHERMEN Filed Aug. 21, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet l Step/:en 0. Stanfield I N VEN TOR.

March 9, 1965 s. o. s'rANFlELD 3,172,319

MULTI-PURPOSE SPLIT sHoT PLIERs FOR FISHERMEN Filed Aug. 21, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Stephen 0. Stanfield IN VENTOR.

BY :umm

United States Patent 3,172,319 MIRE-PURPOSE SPLIT SHT PLIERS FRFSIVERIVEN Stephen Stanfield, Star Rte., Box 154, Fontana, Calif. FiiedAug. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 218,242 3 laims. (Ci. '72-410) The presentinvention relates to a special purpose hand tool which is expresslydesigned and adapted for efficient use by fishermen and its primarypurpose is to accommodatingly store split shot sinkers of various sizesand to selectively dispense the same for attachment to a fishing line orleader.

More explicitly, the invention comprises a pliers-type toolcharacterized by a pair of lever units with median portions thereofhingedly or pivotally connected together. These units are provided atouter or forward ends with special jaws which are movable toward andfrom each other and are provided at inner or rearward ends with novelhandles. The opposed coacting surfaces of the jaws are unique andpurposeful in form as will be hereinafter set forth. The handles arelikewise uniquely devised with a view toward accomplishing other andimproved results as will also be revealed.

One object of the invention is to improve upon Patent 2,765,687 ofOctober 9, 1956, which has to do with a sinker applying device embodyinga tubular body with suitably constructed and operated split shot sinkerapplying jaws at the forward end and which itself is fashioned into ahandle-type split shot storing magazine.

A similar objective is to structurally, functionally and in other waysimprove upon other prior art split shot sinker applying and dislodgingjaw-equipped pliers or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a single tool which issimple, practical, economical, easy to employ and which is characterizedby a construction wherein at least one handle is hollow and is fashionedinto and provides a chamber or magazine for a multiplicity of sizes ofsplit shot, the leading end of said handle being situated adjacent thepivot point between the lever units and embodying a suitable closurecontrolled discharge opening from which the sinkers are allowed to bedispensed one at a time and are then permit-ted to gravitate into thespace between the jaws.

The invention is also to be recognized as a highly useful quality toolcombining into one implement many of the most desired features which areintended to appeal to the average fisherman. To this end the toolembodies a hollow handle serving as the aforementioned magazine orcontainer, and an openable and closable discharge end equipped withsemi-automatic shutter or equivalent valving means. In addition, thejaws embody appropriate leading ends or nose portions which can be usedto facilitate dislodging a fishhook from the mouth of a fish. Also, atleast one of the handles terminates in a suitably notched end which maybe eifectually employed for fishhook loosening and removal needs.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a pair of multipurpose split shotsinker containing and dispensing pliers for use by fishermen constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view on a slightly larger scale and in section with thesplit shot appearing in elevation and 3,172,319 Patented Mar. 9, 1965lCe showing the use of different sizes capable of meeting the demands ofmost fishermen;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the vertical line 3 3 of FIG- URE 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 and showing a modifiedhinge or pivot joint and discharge controlling shutter; i

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view with the handles omitted andthe purpose of which is to show how the jaw surfaces come into play insqueezing and applying a split shot sinker to a fishing line or leaderas the case may be;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 5 and showing themanner in which the jaws may cooperate for dislodging and removing asinker;

FIGURE 7 is a similar View in side elevation the purpose of which is toillustrate how the restricted nose portions or terminals of the jaws maybe employed for dislodging and removing a fshhook; and

FIGURE 8 is a view in side elevation with the jaws omitted but showinghow one of the handles may be employed to disgorge and remove adeep-seated shhook from the body of a fish.

By way of introduction to the description of the details it is to bepointed out that FIGS. 7 and 8, as already suggested, are for thepurpose of illustrating purposes of the tool which while significant tothe user are secondary to the other aspects of the overall concept. AlsoFIG. 4 has been placed to follow FIG. 2 because of the similarcharacteristics and features of the tool but will be treated as amodification. Consequently this explanation is to bring out the factthat like reference numerals will denote like component parts in all ofthe figures except FIG. 4. Proceeding with this idea in mind andreferring primarily to FIGS. l, 2 and 3 it will be evident that onelever unit is denoted by the numeral 10 and the companion lever unit bythe numeral 12. They are of similar dimensions and length as brought outin FIG. 2. The median portion 14 of lever unit 10 is passed between themedian strap-like portions 16 of the lever unit l2 and the coactingportions are pivoted or hingedly joined to each other as at 18. Asperhaps better brought out in FIG. 3 individual peened rivets areemployed for hinge pin connections and they are axially aligned. Thelever unit lt beyond the pivot point terminates in a tapering rigidgenerally straight jaw 2t) having a jaw surface 22 opposed to the jawsurface 24 of the opposed jaw 26 on the lever unit 12. Both jawsterminate in restricted beaks or nose portions 27 and 2S. It Will benoted that the median portion of the surface 22 is provided with atransverse groove 30 which provides a seat or anvil for the split shotremoval step depicted in FIG. 6 wherein the split shot is denoted at A.This surface is aligned with a V-shaped projection 32 which is alsotransverse and which is arranged to serve as a wedge-like spreader andwhich enters the split of the shot in a manner to open up the split anddisconnect the shot from the fishing line or leader B (FIG. 6). To theleft of the groove there is a part-spherical recess or seat 34 and tothe right a larger recess or seat 36 which has a shot delivery trough orchannel 33 cooperatively registrable therewith. This channel graduallylessens its depth as shown in FIG. 2 where it is communicable with thehollow chamber portion 4t) of the top handle 42. This handle has a bluntinner end portion as at 44 while the other end portion 46 is open toprovide a discharge opening which latter registers with the groove orchannel 36 to assist in feeding the split shot or sinkers 48 from themagazine or chamber 40 into the space between the openable and closablejaws. The discharge end portion 46 is constructed to accommodate aslidingly mounted shutter or valve plate which is of the suitably shapedform illustrated in FIG. 2, which has a portion thereof slidinglyconfinedin a loop-like fixed guide 52 and which terminates in a suitablefingergrip 54. This shutter constitutes a normally closed cover or valveand therefore the discharge endV of the handle 42 provides the desiredcontrollable dispensing or gravity feeding step. It is to be againstated here that the storing space in the magazine or chamber 4f) isexpressly designed and adapted to accommodate holding and dispensing ofsplit shot sinkers of various sizes. This is a highly desirable featureof the invention as can be fully appreciated by the prospective user. Byplacing the thumb control 54 adjacent to the hinge point it will beevident that the handles can be grasped and manipulated with requisitenicety and that the controlled dispensing step is semi-automatic. Itfollowsthat when it is desired to put a split shot sinker onto theleader or line the slidingly mounted shutter 5t) is drawn backward thusopening the discharge end of the magazine and allowing the split shot toroll by gravity directly along the guideway or channel 36 into the spacebetween the jaws and to come to rest in the seat 36 whereupon when thejaws are closed or pressed together the split portion of the sinker issqueezed and applied to the line. The shutter is, however, normallyclosed and consequently when it is desired as shown in PEG. 6 to open upand remove the sinker the jaws are caused to function in the mannerillustrated with the wedge-shaped rib coacting with the aforementionedsplit shot seat 30.

It is thought that the herein disclosed pliers-type split shot tool issoundly designed and engineered. It is eX- tremely simple in form anddesign and is minus complicated triggers, springs and othereasy-to-darnage parts. It has been found to be trouble-free, durable,efficient in use and such that it should comply with the expectations ofmanufacturers from a standpoint of economy and other manufacturingneeds. The construction is such that the user has at his disposal asupply of selectively usable split shot sinkers in a rugged easy-to-useimplement.

With further reference to the handle 43 which is opposed to the handle42 it will be noted that the rear end thereof is formed with a V-shapednotch 45 which can be usedV in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8 whenevernecessary or desired to assist one in dislodging and removing a fishhookfrom the mouth of a trapped fish. Further the blunt beaks 27 and 28 inFIG. 7 serve a similar purpose when the fishhook is not so deeplyembedded.

With reference now to the modification in FIG. 4 the hollow handle isdenoted at 60, has a blunt rounded end 62, the hollow portion 64providing a magazine or chamber for reception and retention of thegravity dischargeable split shot sinkers 66. The coacting intermediateportions of the lever units here, which are designated at 68 and 7i),are pivoted together by way of a single pivot pin 72 which also servesto hingedly mount the arm portions 74 of a fork or yoke which carries afinger trigger 76 and a curvate hood-like shutter 78 for opening andclosing the discharge end portion of the chamber. The other lever isdenoted at 80 and the end portion 82 may or may not be provided withshhook removing prongs. The jaws in this form of the invention areconveniently denoted by the numerals S4 and S6 and have theaforementioned features, for

example, a shot squeezing surface 88 opposed to the be a channel 91leading from the chamber e4 to the seat 90.

It is believed that a careful consideration of the specification inconjunction with the views of the drawing will enable the reader toobtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, thefeatures and advantages and mode of using the tools. Therefore a moreextended description is regarded as unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use by a fisherman, a pliers-like tool comprising a pair ofpivoted handles terminating at their respective forward ends in opposedelongated pliers-like companion jaws, at least one handle beingelongated and hollow and constituting a storage magazine adapted tostore and dispense gravity-fed split shot sinlrers of relatively varyingsizes, said storage magazine being closed at a rearward end but open ata forward end from which the sinlcers can be gravity released, at will,one of said jaws having an elongated planar surface provided proximal tosaid forward open end with a sinker seating and retaining recess, saidsurface also having an elongated shallow sinker guiding, gravitating anddelivering channel, the forward end of said channel being unobstructedlyopen and directly communicable with said seating and retaining recess,the rearward end of said charmel eX- tending into and registering withthe open end portion of said magazine, said channel gradually increasingin depth from the rearward end to the forward end, and a readilyaccessible manually actuatable shutter-like valve operatively mountedatop. the magazine adjacent said open forward end and normally coveringand closing said end and also a major portion of said channel and beingmanually movable to a position either partially or completely uncoveringsaid open end and controllable at will in a manner to permit passage andgravitation of at least one of the sinkers via the channel for seatedreception and retention in said recess.

2. Special purpose pliers for use by a fisherman and through the mediumof which the fisherman is enabled to store split shot sinkers of varioussizes and, when desired, to selectively dispense the same for readyattachment to afishing line or leader comprising: a first lever unitprovided at a forward end with a rigid jaw having a lengthwise surfaceprovided with recess means for temporrary reception and retention of asplit shot sinker, said lever having a median portion, a hollow handlehaving a cooperating end joined to said median portion, the hollowportion of said handle constituting a magazine for storing anddispensing the aforementioned split shot sinkers, a rearward end of saidhandlebeing closed and the forward end having a discharge opening spacedfrom a coacting surface of said median portion and said surface beingprovided with an open-ended channel in line with said open end and'having a forward open end thereof cooperating with said recess means, ashutter cooperable with the open forward end of said lever and normallyclosing the same and adjustable toward and from the jaw and recess meansand also cooperating with the forward open end of said channel in `amanner to permit the split shot sinkers to be delivered one by one viathe channel and into a seating and retaining portion of the recessmeans, and a second lever unit having a jaw opposed to the first-namedjaw, having a median strap portion with the straps thereof straddlingand pivotally connected to the median portion of the first-named jawunit, and having a handle spaced from but opposed to the hollow handle,said shutter being slidably mounted and capable of being drawn and slidrearwardly in a manner to uncover the open end of the magazine, saidshutter being provided at a rearward end with a fingergrip.

3. Special purpose pliers for use by a fisherman and through the mediumof which the sherman is enabled to store split shot sinkers of varioussizes and, when desired, to selectively dispense the saine for readyattachment to a fishing line or leader comprising: a iirst lever unitprovided at a forward end with `a rigid jaw having recess means in alengthwise surface thereof for temporary reception and retention of asplit shot sinker, said lever having a median portion with a cooperatingend of ya hollow handle joined thereto, the hollow portion of saidhandle constituting a magazine for storing and dispensing theaforementioned split shot sinkers, a rearward end of said handle beingclosed and the forward end having a discharge opening spaced from acoasting surface of said median portion and said surface being providedwith an open-ended channel in line with said open end and having aforward open end thereof cooperating with said recess means, a shuttercooperable with the open forward end of said lever and normally closingthe opening and adjustable toward and from the jaw and recess means andalso cooperating with the forward open end of said channel in a mannerto permit the split shot sinkers to be delivered one by one via thechannel and into a seating and retaining portion of the recess means,and a second lever unit having a jaw opposed` to the first-named jaw,having a median strap portion with the straps straddling and pivotallyconnected to the median portion of the first-named jaw unit, and havinga handle spaced from but opposed to the hollow handle, said shutterprovided at a rearward end with a iingergrip, said shutter comprising acurved hood-like member mounted for opening and closing the opendischarge end of the charnber portion of the magazine, said shutterbeing provided at a rearward end thereof with an outstanding tingergripwhich is readily accessible 'and convenient for operation andfunctioning of the shutter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 870,108 ll/ 07Kowastch et a1. 2,651,958 9/53 Deline. 2,806,229 9/ 57 Pletz.

2,837,950 6/ 58 Hardy. 2,844,980 7/58 Johnson. 2,920,514 1/ 60 McKeehanet al.

WILLiAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

1. FOR USE BY A FISHERMAN, A PLIERS-LIKE TOOL COMPRISING A PAIR OFPIVOTED HANDLES TERMINATING AT THEIR RESPECTIVE FORWARD ENDS IN OPPOSEDELONGATED PLIERS-LIKE COMPANION JAWS, AT LEAST ONE HANDLE BEINGELONGATED AND HOLLOW AND CONSTITUTING A STORAGE MAGAZINE ADAPTED TOSTORE AND DISPENSE GRAVITY-FED SPLIT SHOT SINKERS OF RELATIVELY VARYINGSIZES, SAID STORAGE MAGAZINE BEING CLOSED AT A REARWARD END BUT OPEN ATA FORWARD END FROM WHICH THE SINKERS CAN BE GRAVITY RELEASED, AT WILL,ONE OF SAID JAWS HAVING AN ELONGATED PLANAR SURFACE PROVIDED PROXIMAL TOSAID FORWARD OPEN END WITH A SINKER SEATING AND RETAINING RECESS, SAIDSURFACE ALSO HAVING AN ELONGATED SHALLOW SINKER GUIDING, GRAVITATING ANDDELIVERING CHANNEL, THE FORWARD END OF SAID CHANNEL BEING UNOBSTRUCTEDLYOPEN AND DIRECTLY COMMUNICABLE WITH SAID SEATING AND RETAINING RECESS,THE REARWARD END OF SAID CHANNEL EXTENDING INTO AND REGISTERING WITH THEOPEN END PORTION OF SAID MAGAZINE, SAID CHANNEL GRADUALLY INCREASING INDEPTH FROM THE REARWARD END TO THE FORWARD END, AND A READILY ACCESSIBLEMANUALLY ACTUATABLE SHUTTER-LIKE VALVE OPERATIVELY MOUNTED ATOP THEMAGAZINE ADJACENT SAID OPEN FORWARD END AND NORMALLY COVERING ANDCLOSING SAID END AND ALSO A MAJOR PORTION OF SAID CHANNEL AND BEINGMANUALLY MOVABLE TO A POSITION EITHER PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY UNCOVERINGSAID OPEN END AND CONTROLLABLE AT WILL IN A MANNER TO PERMIT PASSAGE ANDGRAVITATION OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE SINKERS VIA THE CHANNEL FOR SEATEDRECEPTION AND RETENTION IN SAID RECESS.